Store-service apparatus



(No Model.)

C. EPOSTER.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

Patented Dec. 29, 1891.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. FOSTER, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR, BYMESN E ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OFBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,965, dated December29,1891. Application filed October 11, 1889. Serial No. 326,689 (Nomodel.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. FOSTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in `Store-Service Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

In those systems of store transportation in which a carrier moves backand forth upon a 1o wire or way, the inclination of which is altered toreverse the motion, it has heretofore been necessary to use inconnection with the way certain terminal supports, together withconnecting means whereby the supports may be moved from the oppositeends of the way.

It is the object of my invention to enable the operator at one or bothends of the way to reverse its inclination, thereby moving the car ineither direction at his pleasure withzo out the use of any connectionsbetween the stations other than the way, and this I effect through themedium of the appliances fully set forth hereinafter, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, which is an elevation 2 5 of a carrierconstructed in accordance with the invention, showing the raised portionof the way in full lines and the lowered portion in dotted lines. Oneend of the wayA is flexible and passes 3o over a pulley or drum 2,supported adjacent to the cashiers desk, a cord or continuation 3 of thesaid flexible end passing down from the drum and having a weight orspring 4 secured t'o its lower end, the said weight or 3 5 springtending to revolve the drum and maintain the way taut. The opposite endof the way is secured to a sleeve 5,;sliding upon an inclined bar 19 ofa bracket. A spring or weight 8 is provided, tending to draw down 4o thesupport, while a sufficient draft upon the way (which may be caused bythe handle 7) to overcome the resistance of the said spring will drawthe said sleeve upward on the bar to above the level of the drum,causing the carrier upon the way to move toward the cashiers desk. Onthe other hand, when the draft on the way is released, the sleeve willdescend on the bar 17 to below the level of the drum and the car willmove back toward the bar, which may be located contiguous to a counter.The operator at the desk may eifect both these changes in the positionof the Way, and thus control the movements of the car in eitherdirection, by drawing upon or releasing the way, thus increasing ordecreasing the draft thereon by turning the crank-handle 7, or, if thecrank-handle be not used, by bearing on or drawing up the spring orweight 4.

By means of a suitable yielding detent the cashier can hold the drum 2in position to maintain the car at the desk until change is made and thenecessary records entered. Thus a flat spring is recessed to receive thecrank-handle 7 and hold it in place until the salesman exerts sufficientforce to raise the sleeve above the position shown in full lines,overcoming the resistance of the spring and releasing the drum, so thatthe support can descend, carrying the handle quickly across the recessuntil the way is reversed, when the car will move back toward thecounter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In astore-service apparatus, the combination, with an inclined bar situatedat one terminal of the Way, of a sleeve to support the said way movableupon the said bar, and means situated at the other end of the Way,whereby a draft may be made thereon to cause the sleeve to rise on theinclined bar and thereby change the inclination of the way,substantially as described.

2. In a store-service apparatus, the combination, with a Way, of aninclined bar situated at one terminal thereof, extending above and belowthe level of its opposite terminal, a sleeve slidable upon the said barand carrying one end of the said Way, a spring to draw the said sleeveto its lowest position, a drum to which the opposite end of the way isconnected, a handle to rotate the drum, and a spring-lock for saidhandle, all substantially as described.

3. In a store-service apparatus, the combination, with a way, of aninclined bar situated at one terminal thereof, extending above and belowthe ,level of its opposite terminal, a

sleeve slidable upon the said bar and carrying one end of the said Way,si spring to draw In testimony whereof I have signed my the said sleeveto its lowest position, and name to this specification in the presenceof means situated at the other end of the way two subsembing Witnesses.

whereby a draft may be made thereon to CHARLES E. FOSTER. 5 cause thesleeve to rise on the inclined bar XTitnesses:

and thereby change the inclination of the J. S. BAKKER,

way, substantially as described. F. L. FREEMAN.

